Continuous loaf feeding and timing device



J1me 18,1940. R. J. BEUTEL CONTINUOUS LOAF FEEDING AND TIHING DEVICEFiled April 8, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR ROBERT JVBEUTEL June 18,1940. J, BEUTEL CONTINUOUS LOAF FEEDING AND TIMING DEVICE Filed April 8,1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 N v NW ww mm B 8 Q J L Q Q E @Q K. E M Y ww/J J QNW Q Wm M Q Q Q Q am Mr m w% A .J M mm Q 5 m mm RY I |1|II B w E. [-i..-l I v ww w. 3 mm Q .Q\ Q a Q a. w R 11 \i x J |I\ x1 N In w N a RN ww Nk \w m GE mw AN AN a ha q @E 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 18, 1940. R. J.BEUTEL GON'IINUOUS LOAF FEEDING AND TIIING DEVICE Filed April 8, 1938 Tm Q U m3 W \J 8 June 18, 1940. R. J. BEUTEL CONTINUOUS LOAF FEEDING ANDTIMING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ROBERT J. BEUTEL III/I,

ATTORNEY Filed April 8, 1938 FIG. 6

Patented June 18, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTINUOUS LOAFFEEDING AND TIMING DEVICE Application April s, 1938, Serial No. 200,938

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine of the nature of a bread slicer,especially tosuch a machine intended for use in conjunction with amachine for wrapping the sliced loaves, and

5 more particularly to the provision of means by which the operation ofthe slicing mechanism is so co-ordinated with that of the wrappingmechanism as to assure the uniform delivery to the wrapping mechanism ofa stream of loaves n responding accurately to the demand of the wrappingmechanism.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved sensingdevices to furnish a reliable indication of any irregularity in the ar-1.) rival of sliced loaves at the station where they are to betransferred from the slicer to the takeon element of the wrappingmechanism, and to provide means responding automatically to suchindications of irregularity to correct the discon- 20 formity andrestore the normal regularity of operation without requiring volitionalcontrol or special attention by the operator.

In pursuance of the foregoing general object of the invention, an objectof ancillary character 25 is to provide electrically operating switchdevices in circuit with a solenoid by which the feeding of the loavesboth before and after the slicing operation is controlled and soarranged that upon occurence of any 'disconformity in the 30 timing ofthe loaf-arrival at the outbound conveyor, when coming from the slicermechanism, as for example when the loaf advances too rapidly, or is latein arrival, one or more of the conveyors will be incapacitated, and willbe rehabili- 35 tated at the lapse of a suitable interval, adequate topermit correction of the disconformity.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear as thedescription of the particular physical embodiment selected forillustration 4O progresses.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference have beenapplied to corresponding parts throughout the several views which makeup the drawings, in which:

45 Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation showing the driving means of abread slicing machine;

Fig. 2 is a continued side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of the planetary gearing andvariable speed mechanism;

50 Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of Fig. 2; and a Fig. 6 is a plan viewtaken from the line 3-6 55 of Fig. 5.

(Cl. 146l53) In the now-preferred embodiment of the invention selectedfor illustrationand description, the part designated generally by thereference character I is the infeedconveyor of a brcad-slicing machine,and cooperates with the intermediate conveyor I to lead the loaves ofbread to a slicer mechanism whose reciprocating slicer knives |2, Fig.1, are driven by any suitable means not shown, said conveyors beingdriven by a motor g. 3, in conjunction with a vari-speed motor pulleyI4, having the characteristics hereinafter set forth. Pulley l4 mountedon motor shaft |5, by means of a V-belt |6.drives a pulley Figs.

1 and 4, secured to one end of a shaft I8 which is mounted on rollerbearings 9 provided in housing 20. A worm 2|, which may be integral withshaft I8, meshes witha worm wheel 22 loosely mounted on shaft 23 andimparts motionto planetary gearing to be hereinafter described.

Shaft 23 atone end is mounted in a bearing 24 of housing 20 and itsother end is supported by a bearing 25 of housing cover 26 enclosing theplanetary gearing. Housing 20 has extending hubs 21, Fig. 4, providingmeans for suspending said housing from the rods 28 which are sup- 25ported by the side frames 29 and 30 of the machine.

The rods 23 support loosely mounted across bars 3| and 32 which arespaced by a tie plate 33. The bars 3| and 32, at their base, are pro- '3vided with T slots 34 adapted to receive T bolts 35 which support plate33, said'plate having extending feet 36 which carry the motor 3. In thismanner the motor l3 and pulley M may be moved in and out to line-up thedrive with pul- 3 ley l1 and, when correctly set, the position ismaintained by tightening nuts 31. The cross bar 3|, midway of itslength, is provided with a threaded aperture 38 receiving a spindle 39having a handwheel 40, thus providing means for moving the bars 3| and32 back and forth on rods 28, and consequently the motor l3 and pulleyM. The movement of the motor and pulley with respect to the pulleychanges the speed of the latter by means to be presently described.

The vari-speed motor pulley I4 may be of the type procurable in themarket under the name Reeves and which, in the form herein illustrated,consists of two opposing cone-faced disks, one stationary, laterally,and the other sliding and which includes an adjustable compressionspring, (not shown) all of which is self-contained and may be mounted onany standard motor shaft. When the motor is at the position nearest tothe driven shaft N3, the V-belt l6 assumes the largest arc of contact ordiameter formed by the disks, and the maximum speed is obtained on thedriven pulley.

By turning the speed control hand wheel 40, the motor is moved away fromthe driven pulley, causing the V-belt to assume a smaller arc of contactor diameter between the disks, the sliding disk moving laterally, butheld in positive contact with the V-belt by means of the compressionspring, and thus the speed of the driven pulley is reduced.

When the motor is moved to the position farthest away from the drivenshaft, the V-belt assumes the smallest dlameter and the minimum speed isobtained on the driven pulley I1.

A table 4| supported by the side frames 23 and 30, is provided with anelongated slot 42, Fig. 3, permitting movement of an indicator 43secured to the bar 3|. Table H at its slotted portion may beprovided'with graduated markings furnishing'to the operator anindicationwhich enables him to adjust the speed of the infeed belt with respect tothat of the outbound belt which in turn is synchronized with thewrapping machine. I

When the desired speed of the slicer is obtained, the speed adjustingspindle 33 becomes automatically locked in position by means of a springtensioned ball 44 engaging in one of a number of depressions 45 providedin a collar 46 secured to said spindle.

The worm wheel 22, Figs. 3 and 4, is interlocked with a gear 50, alsoloose on shaft 23, and which meshes with a gear 5| interlocked with aplanet gear 52, the latter being inmesh with a Y sun gear 53 keyedonshaft 23. Gears 5| and 52 are loosely mounted on a stud 54 supportedby an arm 55 also loose on shaft 23, having a hub 56 rotatably mountedin bearing 25,of housing cover 26. The hub 56 of planet arm 55 isinterlocked with a ratchet wheel 51, free on shaft 23. A pawl 58 (Figs.1 and 3) adapted to engage ratchet wheel 51, is operated by a solenoid53 carried by a bracket 60 supported on rods 28. The operation of thesolenoid is controlled in part by connections from a feeler plateindicated at C, Figs. 5 and 6, which operates one of three switchesincluded in series with two other switches, in a control circuit to beherein described, the act of making or breaking the circuit causing thesolenoid to move the pawl 58, in or out of engagement with the ratchetwheel 51, as will be hereinafter set forth more at length.

The pawl 58 is pivotally mounted on a stud 6| supported at the lower endof arms 62 and 63v suspended from the bracket -50, and is normally heldin engagement with ratchet wheel 51 by a tension spring 64 having oneend anchored to a spring post.65 on the pawl and its other end anchoredto a spring post (not shown) provided on arm 62. V Y

When the pawl 58 is in engagement with ratchet wheel 51, the latter andits co-acting arm 55 are held from turning, permitting the worm 2| totransmit motion to its wormwheel 22 and gears 50, 5| and 52, wherebygear 52 drives sun gear 53, imparting motion to shaft 23 and its afiixedsprocket 66. The turning of sprocket I56 drives a chain 61 running overthe sprockets 58 and 63, Fig. 1, thereby driving the pulleys 10 and Hand their respective conveyor belts I0 and II. Pulley10 is mounted on ashaft 12 and pulley H is mounted on a shaft 13 having a gear 14 meshingwith a gear 15 mounted on a shaft 16. Shaft 16 is also provided with asprocket 11 driving a chain 18 running over a sprocket 13 on shaft 80,the latter having a pulley 8| driving a top tension belt 82 running overa pulley 83 on a shaft 84 supported by an adjustable bracket 85. Bracket85 is adjustable to provide means for conforming the tension to thedifferent heights of loaves to be sliced.

The release of pawl 58 from ratchet wheel 51 results in theincapacitation of the driving means to the belts I0, II and 82, forwhile the worm 2| drives worm wheel 22 and gears 50, 5| and 52, thelatter travel around the now stationary sun gear 53 so that the arm 55and its interlocked ratchet wheel 51 merely revolve idly about thestationary shaft 23,thus no motion will be transmitted to sprocket 66and its driven members.

The loaves of bread to be sliced are placed on the horizontal conveyorI0 which advances them on to the inclined conveyor II leading to thereciprocating slicer knives I2 of the slicer unit. The leading loaf ispushed through the knives I2 by the following loaves and passes over thebridge 30, Figs. 1, 2 and 5 into the path of the conveyor flights 3|,Fig. 5, which propel the sliced loaves in timed relation, to a wrappingmachine (not shown) by means to'be presently described.

The conveyor chains 33, Figs. 5 and 6, are provided at spaced intervalswith special links having extending lugs 34 adapted to receive andsupport the flights 3|. The front and rear chains 33 run overintermittently driven sprockets 35 and 36 respectively, and over idlersprockets 31 mounted on a shaft 38 supported by the side frames 33 andI00. Sprockets 35 and 96 are secured to the ends of a sleeve IOIprovided with bushings I02 having a running fit upon, and to be turnedby, a continuously rotating shaft I03 driven by any suitable means froma wrapping machine, not shown. Shaft I03 is supported in bearings (notshown) of the outer side frames 33 and I00 of the slicing machine.

The hub of sprocket! 35'carries a pin I04 adapted to be engaged anddriven by a spring tensioned pawl I05 fulcrumed on a stud I06 of adriving arm I01 secured on shaft I03. The drive I04--I05 remains engagedas long as a continuous and properly timed flow of loaves issue from theslicer, but when an interruption occurs, the drive will be automaticallydisengaged, stopping the rotation of sprockets 35 and 36 andconsequently the travel of conveyor chains 33. The disengagement of thedrive is desirably accomplished by means of a roller I08, carried by atrip arm I03, which will project into the path of the pawl I05 ready toengage the inclined portion IIO of the same, when an interruption occursin the continuous flow of the loaves, thereby tripping said pawl andreleasing it from pin I04.

The arm I03 is secured to one end of a pivot shaft III mounted ontrunnions ,I I2, one of which is supported by the frame 33, Fig. 6, andthe other'carried by a plate II3 suspended from one of the support barsII4. Bars II 4 are secured to tie bars I I5 and I I6 (Fig. 5), beingsquare in cross-section. and turned at their endsto, fit suitablehubsprovided on the frames 33 and I00 (notshown). The bar 5 supports aU-shaped bracket -II1 having legs H8 and H9 providing means for securingthe same to said bar. members H8 and H3 are provided with trunnions Icarrying a comparatively short pivot shaft III carrying a fixed arm II2connecting to a trip arm I23. Arm I23 terminates in a' link I24connecting to an arm I25 secured to pivot shaft III, and arm I25 carriesa stud I26 equipped The with an adjustable counter-weight I21 whichtends to normally retain the trip arm I23 in its up-position.

The bars II4 support a table I30 and an adjustable plate I 3|, U-shapedin cross-section and partly overlying the table I30. A Ushaped bridgeplate I32, also supported by bars H4, is mounted so as to allow aclearance for a sliding fit of plate I34; Plate I3I supports a hinge I33connecting to an inclined trip plate I34 equipped with a roller I35adapted to depress trip arm I23. Plate I 3I is provided with arectangular opening I36 permitting up and down movement of the plateI34. Plate I3I is also provided with elongated slots I31 permittinglateral movement of said plate and its attached trip plate I34, thusproviding means for setting the trip plate to accommodate the differentsizes of loaves, and when correctly set the plate may be locked inposition by screws I30.

At the start of a run, the plate I3I is adjusted so that the loavesissuing from the slicer will depress plate I34 when they areapproximately one inch clear of the bridge 90, Fig. 5. The descent ofplate I34, acts, by means of roller I35, to depress thetrip arm I23, thefinal oneeighth inch of travel of the latter closing the circuit of anormally open Microswitch I40. The descent of arm I23 also lifts the armI09 and its roller I08 out of the path of the pawl I05, therebypermitting the pawl to engage pin I04 and drive the conveyor chains 93during the next cycle of shaft I03.

The switch I40 is wired in series with two other Microswitches HI andI42 to the solenoid 59. Switch I4I, which is also normally open iscontrolled by an adjustable cam I43 which rotates only when the conveyorchains 93 are in motion. The normally closed switch I42 is controlled bya cam I44 adjustably attached to the continuously rotating shaft I03,and imparts motion to the delivery conveyor chains 93 when a loadoverlies the trip plate I34.

The cam I43, being adjustably attached to the clutch sprocket 95, isprovided with arcuate slots allowing movement of the cam to a positionso that the roller I45, on the switch lever I46, rests aboutone-sixteenth of an inch from the edge of the raised portion I41 of thecam. This set-up of the roller is made when the pawl I has just beendisengaged from the pin I04, leaving sprocket 95 in its stationaryposition, the cam I43 being then clamped in position by means of boltsI48. A set screw I49, carried by lever I46, is adjusted so as to engagea leaf spring I50 of the switch I4I, opening the circuit of the same atthe time the roller I45 leaves the high portion of the cam.

The cam I44, at the other end of shaft I03, is set in such relation withthe cam I43, that a roller I5I on aswitch lever I52 will leave itsposition on the high portion I53 of cam I44 and close the circuit ofswitch I42 shortly after the circuit of the switch I4I has been opened.In

, this manner no current will flow to the solenoid 59, and the sameremains de-energized, thereby preventing unnecessary interruptions inthe loaf feeding action of the feed-in belts I0 and II during normaloperation. The lever I52 is secured on a stud I55 supported by a flangedsleeve I56 carried by plate I I3, said sleeve having a threaded portionto receive a nut I51 acting to retain it in place. A collar I58, fixedon the other end of stud I55, is provided with a set screw I59 which isadapted to actuate a leaf spring I60 of switch I42, as the screw I59sweeps around.

To regulate the action of the delivery conveyor 93 so as to handledifferent width loaves, the cam I43 is provided with an adjustable campart I6I, of the same outside diameter as the high portion I41 of saidcam. Insetting this adjustable cam part, the chains 93 are advanced byturning shaft I03, until one of the flights 9I passes over and clearsplate I34 by approximately one-half inch. At this point, a clamp screwI62 of cam I43 is loosened, and the adjustable cam part I6I is moveduntil it is about to engage the roller I45, said cam then being clampedin position by tightening screw I62. It should be remembered that theplate I3I also has to be adjusted in or out for different width loavesso as to maintain the desired relation between bridge 90 and thetripping of plate I34, as hereinbefore described.

For wide loaves, the cam I6I is moved in a counterclockwise direction,shortening the period of time during which the switch I4I remainsclosed, and for narrow loaves the cam is moved in a clockwise direction,increasing the period of time the switch remains closed. In this mannerthe belts I0 and I I remain stationary for a longer or shorter period oftime, depending on the setting of cams I43 and I6I. During normaloperation of the machine, that is, when the loaves continue to issuefrom the bridge 90 in properly timed relation, the clutch I04-I05 willremain engaged and will drive the flights 9|. The loaves dropsuccessively from the bridge, and each loaf rests momentarily until theflight engages it and propels it over the trip plate I34, depressing thesame and closing switch I40. In the meantime cam surfaces I41 and I6Ihold switch I4I closed and cam surface I53 holds switch I42 open. Inthismanner, there will be an interruption in the flow of current to thesolenoid 59, leaving the same deenergized, whereby the pawl 58 willremain engaged with ratchet 51, permitting the planetary gearing todrive the feed-in belts I0 and II.

If a loaf should happen to issue from bridge 90 with enough speed totrip and rest on plate I34, its co-acting switch I42 will be closed andswitch I4I will also be closed by means of its cam. The cam surface I53in this case would not have had time to open its switch I42, so that allthe switches will ,be closed momentarily, whereby a flow of current willreach solenoid 59, energizing the same and disengaging its pawl andratchet arrangement. The drive of belts I0 and II will therefore remainmotionless until switch I42 is again opened, whereupon the solenoid willbe deenergized, permitting the pawl to engage the ratchet and therebyallowing the gearing to impart motion to the feed-in belts.

If a loaf should be improperly timed, or arrive late, the trip plate I34will remain in its inclined position holding roller I08 in the path ofpawl I05, disengaging the same from pin I04, and thus stopping the driveof the conveyor 93 during the remaining cycle of shaft I03. In themeantime, the feed-in belts I0 and II have advanced the loaves so thatthe leading loaf which was late, will be advanced on to trip plate I34,closing switch I40. The plate I34 in descending causes arm I09 carryingknock-out roller I08 to ascend, permitting the pawl I05 to again engagepin I04 and impart motion to the conveyor 93. In the meantime, switchMI, by means of its cam, is closed and inasmuch as cam surface I53 wouldnot be in position to open switch I42, a flow of current will reach thesolenoid, thus stopping the motion imparted to the feed-in belts I0 andII.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a slicer mechanism, atravelway through said mechanism, an in-feed conveyor mechanism forfeeding articles to be operated upon, such as loaves, in substantiallycontinuous, contiguous succession through said slicer, means operatingnormally to actuate said in-feed conveyor mechanism constantly, anoutbound conveyor mechanism adapted to receive, to space and to forward,sliced articles from said slicer, means operating normally to actuatesaid outbound conveyor mechanism constantly when said articles pass fromsaid slicer with normal regularity, and a unitary sensing andincapacitating mechanism, including a feeler disposed in said travelwaynear the discharge region between the slicer mechanism and outboundconveyor mechanism and adapted to be engaged with each loaf passing saiddischarge region, and connections leading from said incapacitating meansfor the in-feed conveyor mechanism and the outbound conveyor mechanismrespectively, whereby said feeler at various positions thereof causesincapacitation of one of said conveyor mechanisms independently of theother, and means to adjust said feeler bodily lengthwise of saidconveyor and with relation to its associated instrumentalities tocompensate for variations in loaf sizes.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a slicer mechanism, atravelway through said mechanism, an in-feed conveyor mechanism forfeeding articles to be operated upon, such as loaves, in substantiallycontinuous, contiguous succession through said slicer, means operatingnormally to actuate said in-feedl conveyor mechanism constantly, meansto incapacitate said infeed conveyor mechanism upon occurrence of adisconformity in the regularity of travel of said articles into andthrough said slicer, an outbound conveyor mechanism adapted to receive,to space and to forward sliced articles from said slicer, meansoperating normally to actuate said outbound conveyor mechanismconstantly when said articles pass from said slicer with normalregularity, means to incapacitate said outbound conveyor mechanism uponoccurrence of a predetermined disconformity in said regularity lastnamed, and a unitary sensing and incapacitating mechanism, including afeeler disposed in said travelway near the discharge region between theslicer mechanism and outbound conveyor mechanism and adapted to beengaged with each loaf passing said discharge region, and connectionsleading from said incapacitating means for the feed conveyor mechanismand for the outbound conveyor mechanism respectively whereby saidfeeler, in various positions thereof, causes incapacitation of both ofsaid conveyor mechanisms, and at times causes incapacitation of one ofsaid conveyor mechanisms, independently of the other, and means toadjust said feeler bodily lengthwise of said conveyor and with relationto its associated instrumentalities to compensate for variations in loafsizes.

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a slicer mechanism, anarticleway leading through said mechanism, in-feed and outbound conveyordevices for feeding articles, such as loaves of bread, into and awayfrom said slicing mechanism and cooperating to advance said articles inpredetermined arrangement for delivery to another mechanism, such as aloafwrapper mechanism, means to incapacitate at least one of saidconveyor mechanisms upon occurrence of a predetermined disconformity inthe approach of one or more of said articles to the outbound conveyormechanism, and a sensing mechanism with connections adapted to make saidincapacitating means effective upon occurrence of said disconformity,said sensing mechanism being adjustable bodily lengthwise of saidconveyor to compensate for variations in loaf size, while maintainingits operative relation to the associated instrumentalities.

4. Apparatus of the class described, having the features claimed inclaim 3, in which said incapacitating mechanism is common to said infeedand outbound conveyor mechanisms and includes a primary control meansadapted to be actuated by said sensing mechanism device exclusively whenin predetermined positions thereof, for incapacitating the in-feedconveyor mechanism, to halt delivery of articles to said slicermechanism, and includes also an electrically operated secondary controlmeans adapted to be actuated by said sensing mechanism exclusively whensaid feeler device is free from contact with any article in saidarticleway, said control device acting to halt operation of saidoutbound conveyor, said electrically operated secondary control meansincluding flexible electrical conductors adapted to maintain theelectrical circuits in the several adjustive positions of the parts.

5. Apparatus of the class described, having the features claimed inclaim 3, in which said incapacitating mechanism is common to said infeedand outbound conveyor mechanism and includes a primary control meansadapted to be actuated by said sensing mechanism device exclusively whenin predetermined positions thereof, for incapacitating the in-feedconveyor mechanism, to halt delivery of articles to said slicermechanism, and includes also a secondary control means adapted to beactuated by said sensing mechanism exclusively when said feeler deviceis free from contact with any article in said articleway, said secondarycontrol means acting to halt operation of said outbound conveyor, saidprimary control means comprising an electromagnetic device included inseries in a control circuit with a plurality of electric switchesmovable respectively to make and break said control circuit, toincapacitate said actuating mechanism for the infeed conveyor mechanism,said control circuit having electrical conductors adapted to maintainthe electrical circuit in appropriate working condition in the severaladjustive positions of the parts and said secondary control meansincluding means operated in part by the conveyor ac- H tuatingmechanism, and in part by complemental members connected with saidsensing mechanism, to make said last-named incapacitating mechanismeffective and ineffective selectively, according to the position of saidprimary and/or secondary control means, singly or in combination.

6. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a slicer mechanism, anarticleway leading therethrough, an infeed conveyor, a loaf wrapper, anoutbound conveyor leading from said slicer to said wrapper, means toincapacitate said conveyors selectively upon occurrence-of certainpredetermined disconformities in the loaf-feed, a sensing mechanism withconnections adapted to make said incapacitating means effective, saidconnections comprising an electro-magnetic device included in a controlcircuit with a plurality of electric control switches, a sun-and-planetdifferential gear system controlled by said electro-magnetic device, andacting to operate said from due engagement with said sensing mechanism,said outbound conveyor being coupled at regular cyclical intervalsindependently of the operation of said electro-magnetic device, and alsobeing recoupled when said sensing mechanism senses the presence of aloaf in position for conveyal to said wrapper.

7. In a loaf feed control of the class described, in which a feeleroperates at a sensing station in the path of sliced loaves passing alonga travelway, from which station they are advanced to a wrappingmechanism by an outbound conveyor normally actuated in time with thewrapping mechanism, and to which travelway the unsliced loaves are fedby an inbound conveyor through a slicer, and are thence forwarded to thewrapping mechanism in spaced apart succession by flights on saidoutbound conveyor, said feeler being biased into said path normally, andadapted to be depressed by a superimposed sliced loaf in the travelway:mechanism including a normally closed clutch, for normally actuatingsaid inbound conveyor an electrical control circuit including anelectromagnetic device and a first electrical switch to throw out saidclutch; means actuated by said feeler, when depressed by the presence ofa sliced loaf to close said first switch, thereby to operate saidelectromagnetic device to render said clutch ineffective to drive saidinbound conveyor; mechanism including another clutch device foractuating said outbound conveyor; means biased normally to couple saidsecond clutch device, making efiective said outbound conveyor drive; adevice operated by said feeler when the bias of said feeler is madeeffective by the absence of a sliced loaf throughout the remainder of acycle, to render said lastnamed clutch inefiective to transmit drivingpower to said outbound conveyor, during a succeeding cycle.

8. In a loaf feed control of the class described, in which a feeleroperates at a sensing station in the path of sliced loaves passing alonga travelway, from which station they are advanced to a wrappingmechanism by an outbound conveyor normally actuated in time with thewrapping mechanism, and to which travelway the unsliced loaves are fedby an inbound conveyor through a slicer, and are thence forwarded to thewrapping mechanism in spaced apart succession by flights on saidoutbound conveyor, said feeler being biased into said path normally, andadapted to be depressed by a superimposed sliced loaf in the travelway:mechanism including a normally closed first clutch for normallyactuating said outbound conveyor: means biased normally to a positionfor throwing out said first clutch cyclically; means actuated by saidfeeler, when depressed by a superimposed sliced loaf, to controvert saidlast named bias and make said first clutch efiective to drive saidoutbound conveyor; mechanism coordinated with the wrapping mechanism,including a second clutch device for actuating said inbound conveyor;means biased normally to throw in said second clutch device, makingefiective said inbound conveyor drive; an electromagnetic device adaptedto operate said second clutch device and included in an electricalcontrol circuit with an electric switch operated by said feeler to closesaid control circuit through said electromagnetic device when the biasof said feeler is controverted by a superimposed loaf, thereby to throwout said second clutch, and moving to break said circuit when the biasof said feeler becomes effective in the absence of a loaf, thereby torender the second clutch effective to transmit driving power to saidinbound conveyor.

9. A loaf feed control of the class described, in which a feeleroperates at a sensing station in the path of sliced loaves passing alonga travelway, from which station they are advanced to a wrappingmechanism by an outbound conveyor normally actuated in time with thewrapping mechanism and to which-travelway the unsliced loaves are fed byan inbound conveyor through a slicer, and are thence forwarded to thewrapping mechanism in spaced succession by flights on said outboundconveyor, said feeler being biased into said path normally, and adaptedto be depressed by a superimposed sliced loaf in the travelway: saidfeed control being further characterized by the provision of a plate onwhich said feeler is mounted for adjustment bodily, lengthwise of saidoutbound conveyor, to compensate for variations in loaf size, and meansto hold said plate in adjusted position.

10. A loaf feed control of the class described, in which a feeleroperates at a sensing station in the path of sliced loaves passing alonga travelway, from which station they are advanced to a wrappingmechanism by an outbound conveyor normally actuated in time with thewrapping mechanism and to which travelway the unsliced loaves are fed byan inbound conveyor through a slicer, and are thence forwarded to thewrapping mechanism in spaced succession by flights on said outboundconveyor, said feeler being biased into said path normally, and adaptedto be depressed by a superimposed sliced loaf in the travelway: saidfeed control being further characterized by the provision of a plateadjustable bodily lengthwise of the conveyors, and on which said feeleris mounted for such bodily adjustment lengthwise of the conveyors, tocompensate for variations in loaf size, and means to hold said plate inadjusted position relatively to said conveyors and in continuedcoordination therewith.

11. In a loaf feed control of the class described, in which a feeleroperates at a sensing station in the path of sliced loaves passing alonga travelway, from which station they are advanced to a wrappingmechanism by an outbound conveyor normally actuated in time with thewrapping mechanism, and to which travelway the unsliced loaves are fedby an inbound conveyor through a slicer, and are thence forwarded to thewrapping mechanism in spaced apart succession by flights on saidoutbound conveyor, said feeler being biased into said path normally, andadapted to be depressed by a superimposed sliced loaf in the travelway;mechanism including a normally closed first clutch for normallyactuating said outbound conveyor; means biased normally to a positionfor throwing out said first clutch cyclically; means actuated by saidfeeler, when depressed by a superimposed sliced loaf, to controvert saidlast named bias and make said first clutch eifective to drivesaidoutbound conveyor; mechanism coordinated with the wrappingmechanism, including a second clutch device for actuating said inboundconveyor; means biased normally to throw in said second clutch device,making efiective said inbound conveyor drive; an electromagnetic deviceadapted to operate said second clutch device and included in anelectrical control circuit with an electric switch operated by saidfeeler to close said control (lrcuit through said electromagnetic devicewhen the bias of said feeler is controverted by a superimposed loaf,thereby to throw out said second clutch, and moving to break saidcircuit when the bias of said feeler becomes effective in the absence ofa loaf, thereby to render the second clutch effective to transmitdriving power to said inbound conveyor; a second normally open switchincluded in said control circuit; and means operated cyclically wheneverthe outbound conveyor is in operation, to close said last-named switch,thereby to permit completion of the control circuit and stoppage of theinbound conveyor in the event that the feeler is depressed for an undueperiod by the presence of loaves thereon.

12. In a loaf feed control of the class described, in which a feeleroperates at a sensing station in the path of sliced loaves passing alonga travelway, from which station they are advanced to a wrappingmechanism by an outbound conveyor normally actuated in time with thewrapping mechanism, and to which travelway the unsliced loaves are fedby an inbound conveyor through a slicer, and are thence forwarded to thewrapping mechanism in spaced apart succession by flights on saidoutbound conveyor, said feeler being biased into said path normally, andadapted to be depressed by a superimposed sli'ced loaf in the travelway;mechanism including a normally closed first clutch for normallyactuating said outbound conveyor; means biased normally to a positionfor throwing out said first clutch cyclically; means actuated by saidfeeler, when depressed by asuperimposed sliced loaf, to controvert saidlast named bias and make said first clutch effective to drive saidoutbound conveyor; mechanism coordinated with the wrapping mechanism,including a second clutch device for actuating said inbound conveyor;means biased normally to throw in said second clutch device, makingeffective said inbound conveyor drive; an electromagnetic device adaptedto operate said second clutch device and included in an electricalcontrol circuit with an electric switch operated by said feeler to closesaid control circuit through said electromagnetic device when the biasof said feeler is controverted by a superimposed loaf, thereby to throwout said second clutch, and moving to break said circuit when the biasof said feeler becomes effective in the absence of a loaf, thereby torender the second clutch effective to transmit driving power to saidinbound conveyor; a second normally open switch included in said controlcircuit to interpose a cyclical element into the circuit operations, athird switch, normally closed, in the control circuit, and means to openthe last-named swi cyclically to incapacitate the electromagnetic devicefrom operating to stop the outbound conveyor when loaves are ready to beforwarded.

ROBERT J. BEUTEL.

